Showing 27 results for Mahmoudi
Parvin Nassiri, Farideh Golbabai, Mahmoud Mahmoudi,
Volume 7, Issue 2 (8-1993)
Abstract
This paper presents noise problems associated with the use of air-turbine drills
in dental practice. Two hundred and fifty dentists (male and female) were randomly
selected from the faculty of dentistry as well as the dentists who worked private in
Tehran. The results indicated that the mean value of sound pressure level produced
by the high-speed drills was 69.1 db. Most of the energy from the drills lied in the high
frequency range, 6000- 8000 Hertz. Audiological evaluations showed that the loss
of hearing in all age groups and years in dental practice lie in 6000 Hertz which has
a positive correlation with the value of sound pressure level in this frequency. The
hearing loss in the right ear of women was slightly higher than the left one, while this
was not true in men. The hearing loss in the female group was greater than in male
group.
Ar Khosravi, M Franco, M Mahmoudi,
Volume 7, Issue 3 (11-1993)
Abstract
For demonstration of cell-mediated immunity and its role in the process of
dermatophytosis, 98 patients with acute dermatophytosis (group I) and 131 chronic
dermatophytosis patients (group 2) were chosen. In ail patients, lymphocyte
transfonnation and skin test were used. 96 members of group I (98%) had positive
delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to trichophytin, whereas only 43
subjects (32.8%) of group 2 had positive DTH responses. In group I, positive
lymphocyte blastogenic responses to trichophytin and phytohemagglutinin were
seen in 95 (96.lJ%) and lJX (100%) patients, respectively, but in group 2 the positive
results were observed in4lJ (34.4%) and 127 (lJ4.9%) subjects, respectively. Patients
with chronic dermatophytosis had histories of a number of systemic disorders such
as: atopy 04 patients diabetes, seven patients contact dennatitis, four patients and
tuberculosis, three patients.
M Mahmoudian, M Abbasi, Aj Jamshidi,
Volume 9, Issue 3 (10-1995)
Abstract
Adjustment of phenytoin dosage in patients is very difficult due to its nonlinear
metabolism and patient to patient variation in its kinetics. It has been
recommended that the dosage of phenytoin should be adjusted according to its
plasma concentration and requirements of the patients. Therefore, the present
study was carried out to identify the various factors which may influence the
plasma level of this drug. The phenytoin plasma concentration was determined in
91 patients with steady-state concentrations according to the EMIT method. In a
further 14 patients, who had recieved at least two different doses of phenytoin, the
Km, and Vmax of phenytoin metabolism were determined according to Mullen's
direct linear plot. The results of this study showed that the plasma level of
phenytoin was below the therapeutic level in 62 (68.2%) of the patients and above
the therapeutic level in 8 (8.8%). Statistical analysis did not show any correlation
between plasma level and factors such as sex, age, or type of drug administered.
Only a small correlation was found between dosage and plasma level. The K", of
phenytoin metabolism in the group studied was found to be in the range of 1.8-
26j..Lg/mI and that of V max in the range of 5.33-13.88 mg/kg/day. The mean values
of Km, (8.4±1.7µg/mI) and V max (7.3±O.S8 mg/kg/day) were slightly higher than
reported values in the literature (S.7±2.9 µg/mI and 5.9±1.2 mg/kg/day,
respectively). However, this difference was not statistically significant.
M Mahmoudian Shooshtari, Ad Wilson, P Watkin, S Finerty, Aj Morgan,
Volume 15, Issue 2 (8-2001)
Abstract
EBV-carrying human cell lines, depending on whether the cells are derived
from Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) tumor biopsies or transformed by EBV in vitro,
have different growth properties in vitro. In contrast, there are no clear differences
between tamarin tumor lines and tamarin LCLs in vitro. Both types of tamarin
cell lines could grow in agarose and formed colonies unlike human LCLs, although
with a lower cloning efficiency than BL lines. The growth patterns of the
tamarin tumor lines resemble more those of human LCLs than human BL lines,
although the observation that tamarin LCLs can grow in agarose whereas human
LCLs cannot may be significant. If it is accepted for arguments sake that Raji BL
cells are representative of human EBV BL tumor cells, then both tamarin LCLs
and tumor lines are more tumorigenic as judged by the single criterion of growth
in agarose
A Aghamohammadi, A Farhoudi, M Moein, Z Pourpak, N Rezaei, K Abolmaali, M Movahedi, M Gharagozlou, B Mirsaeidghazi, M Mahmoudi,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (11-2002)
Abstract
Common variable immunodeficiency (CV ID) is a heterogeneous primary
immunodeficiency disorder, characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and increased
susceptibility to recurrent bacterial infections.
To determine the spectrum of infectious complications in patients with common
variable immunodeficiency (CV ID), we reviewed the hospital records of 64
CVID patients, who were diagnosed in Children's Medical Center during a period
of 20 years.
Among our patients, there were 38 males and 26 females, with a median age
of 12 years (2-42 years) at the time of study. The median age of diagnosis was 6.1
years, with an average diagnostic delay of 5.2 years in our patient's group. Almost
all of our patients have suffered from acute and recurrent infections, particularly
in the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. The majority of patients (82.5%)
had pneumonia prior to diagnosis. The other infectious complications seen in our
patients were as follows: recurrent otitis media (54%), recurrent sinusitis (50.8%),
diarrhea (65.1 %), and bacterial meningitis (11.1 %). Unusual or opportunistic infections
were also seen in some of our patient population, including oral candidiasis
in 10 patients, and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in 2 subjects.
Based on this study, we suggest that hypogammaglobulinemia should be considered
in any patient with a history of recurrent infections in different organs,
and such patients should have a full assessment of the immune system.
M Farhadi, S Mahmoudian, M Samoudi, H Emamjomeh, A Daneshi,
Volume 18, Issue 3 (11-2004)
Abstract
Auditory Electrical Stimulation for Tinnitus Suppression
Tinnitus is the conscious experience of sound which arises in the head of its
owner, but without a voluntary origin obvious to that person. About 10-15% of all
adults report prolonged spontaneous tinnitus (PST).
There are a lot of methods for suppressing this complaint. One of these methods is
electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation for tinnitus suppression was investigated
by many authors that reported its effectiveness from 22% by Grahams and Hazell
(1989) to 87% by Portman (1979).
The purpose of the present project was to design and structure a new Auditory
Electrical Stimulation device for tinnitus relief in patients who suffer from tinnitus.
Our other goal was to execute a pilot project by modelling of our new device on
animals.
In this project an instrument for applying Auditory Electrical Stimulation (AES)
is designed. This device consists of two generators: one is a carrier square wave
generator (30 KHz to 100 KHz), the second is another low frequency square signal
(1 Hz through 20 KHz) that has an adjustable duty cycle. The entire user interface is
on PC, and there are a lot of options that the user can adjust.
The PC is connected to a circuit by a serial port and the serial port is isolated from
the other pat1s of the circuit. Modulation can optionally be enabled or disabled. The
amplitude of current flow can vary from 1 microamp to 1000 microamp (lmilli-
Amp) with 1 microamp resolution. The impulse duration can be adjusted (this is a
third pulse generator) by the user from 500 microsec delivered at 1/sec to 2000/sec.
The combined electrical signal has the maximum peak to peak amplitude of 10 V,
which varies to make a constant current through electrodes. A warning device
indicates insufficient skin electrode contact. In addition the impedance between
electrodes can be monitored on PC. There are several parts that increase the safety
of this system. The dimension of the PC board is 11 cm x 14cm. By now the first
version which could be used in hospital and/or clinics is made and could be used by
patients who suffer from tinnitus.
We believe that tinnitus reduction occurred or even disappeared during and after
the treatment period by AES. Our results applying Auditory Electrical Stimulation
(AES) were effective in our many patients who had clinically been identified as
having peripheral or central lesion tinnitus sites. We made a new auditory electrical
stimulation device for tinnitus relief in patients suffering from tinnitus that can do
electrical stimulations. Also, in an experimental study design on rabbits, we had
tested this new device, and evaluated the efficiency to deliver electrical currents and
other capabilities in tinnitus suppression.
Although study comparisons are confounded by differences in success criteria,
subject sampling, methodology and acute tinnitus suppression have been reported in
up to 62.5% of subjects (Mahmoud ian et aI., 2001), AES reduces the effects of
tinnitus several factors could be involved in this reduction, i.e. synchronizing
discharge of auditory nerve fibers, inhibition of the abnormal activity of the cochlear
nerve, the revival neural coding and positive neural plasticity.
Massoud Mahmoudian, Nahid Aboutaleb, Farahnaz Beiranvand, Ashraf-Alsadat Moazzam, Massoumeh Shafiei,
Volume 25, Issue 2 (7-2011)
Abstract
Abstract
Background: It has been demonstrated that noscapine, an antitussive opioid alkaloid, could antagonize bradykinin- induced responses such as bradykinin effects in guinea-pig ileum, cough induced by bradykinin receptor agonist and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and brain damage after brain edema both in neonatal rat model and in patients with stroke. In the present study, the effect of noscapine on bradykinin-induced constriction of human umbilical artery was investigated.
Methods: Segments of human umbilical cords were obtained from women with normal full term pregnancies. Concentration-response curves for bradykinin (1-1000 nM) were constructed in the absence and presence of noscapine (1-1000 nM). To show the specificity of noscapine for bradykinin-induced constriction in the tissue, the effect of noscapine (10 pM) on vasoconstriction produced by histamine were also examined.
Results: The results showed that noscapine could antagonize the constriction produced by bradykinin in human umbilical artery. It was also demonstrated that noscapine was capable of reducing histamine-induced contractile response.
Conclusion: It is concluded that noscapine can antagonize bradykinin-induced constriction of human umbilical artery in a nonspecific manner. Thus, noscapine is likely to find a clinical application in pathologic conditions accompanied by higher vascular sensitivity to bradykinin in pregnancy.
Yaser Mokhayeri, Mahmood Mahmoudi, Ali Akbar Haghdoost, Hassan Amini, Mohsen Asadi-Lari, Kourosh Holakouie Naieni,
Volume 28, Issue 1 (1-2014)
Abstract
Background :There is substantial lack of knowledge about the role of socioeconomic status (SES) indicators on life expectancy (LE) within-cities, especially within mega-cities. We aimed to investigate the disparities of LE within city districts of Tehran, Iran, and specify how SES inequalities play role on LE.
Methods : The death and population data for 2010 by different age, gender, and residency district were obtained from the main cemetery of Tehran and statistical centre of Iran, respectively. Age-specific mortality rates and consequently LE were calculated for all 22 districts by different genders. Finally, based on the results of first Tehran's Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool (Urban HEART) project in 2008, the influence of social classes (SCs), total costs, and education indicators were analyzed on LE at birth (e0).
Results : The e0 for total males and females in Tehran were calculated as 74.6 and 78.4 years for 2010, respectively. The maximum LE of 80 years was observed in females of northern part with higher SES, and the minimum e0 of 72.7 years observed in males of southern part with lower SES. The e0 gender gap among districts was 5.5 years for females and 3.7 years for males. The highest and lowest mean of e0 observed in SC1 (highest class) and SC5 (lowest class), were 77.6 and 76.0 years, respectively. The lowest mean of e0 observed in the first group of total costs indicator and was 76.2 years. In addition, the lowest observed mean of e0 was in the first category of education indicator (illiterate) and was 76.0 years.
Conclusion : Results indicate substantial disparities in LE within city districts. This confirms that SES disparities within-cities would have direct influences on LE.
Ali Yeganeh, Negin Hatami, Mani Mahmoudi, Bahram Boduhi, Mahzad Saidifard, Babak Otoukesh,
Volume 29, Issue 1 (1-2015)
Abstract
Background: Infectious diseases are major public health problems, among which blood-borne ones are the most important infections. Patients who undergo orthopedic surgery are at higher risk of transmitting infectious diseases from and to others, due to repeated blood examinations and injection, drains secretion and receiving blood products. Accordingly, in this study we determined prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections in patients who underwent surgery in a general training hospital.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV infections was determined among 320 patients under orthopedic trauma surgeries in a general training hospital in Tehran, Iran from 2009 to 2011. Associations of these rates with age, gender, marital status, residence location, substance abuse history, hospital admission history, previous surgery, blood transfusion, dentistry procedures, and previous medical history were also assessed.
Results: A total of 320 patients (290 male, 30 female) were studied. Ten patients (3.2%) had at least one of these three infections. Totally 10 patients (3.2%), 2 subjects (0.6%), and 8 patients (2.5%) had HCV, HIV, and HBV infections, respectively. None of the evaluated variables had significant relationship with HCV, HBV, and HIV infections (p> 0.05).
Conclusion: According to the obtained results, routine use of diagnostic tests for infectious disease such as HIV and viral hepatitis is recommended and should be considered before orthopedic operations.
Shaghayegh Omidvar, Zahra Jafari, Saeid Mahmoudian, Mehdi Khabazkhoob, Mohsen Ahadi, Nasrin Yazdani,
Volume 30, Issue 1 (1-2016)
Abstract
Background: The possible role of cochlear function in tinnitus generation is still a matter of debate. To assess the role of outer hair cell dysfunction in tinnitus and its possible relationship with ultra-high frequency (UHF) hearing sensitivity, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and UHF hearing thresholds were investigated in normal hearing individuals with and without tinnitus.
Methods: Eighteen individuals with tinnitus and 22 without tinnitus participated in this study. TEOAE was recorded with click stimulus at 80 dBpeSPL. UHF pure tone audiometry was performed at 10, 12.5, 16, and 18 kHz.
Results: TEOAE was significantly abnormal in 72.2% of the tinnitus, and 18.2% of the control groups (p=0.001). The individuals with tinnitus had significantly poorer UHF hearing sensitivity compared to the control group at 12.5 and 18 kHz (p≤0.048). There was a stronger correlation between increasing UHFs hearing threshold and decreasing SNRs of TEOAEs in the tinnitus group compared to the controls.
Conclusion: Our study revealed poorer UHF hearing thresholds and more TEOAE abnormalities in normal hearing individuals with tinnitus compared to the controls. Perhaps the alterations in the basal cochlea, following a decrease in UHF hearing sensitivity, affect OAEs that are originated from more apical cochlear parts in tinnitus ears more than non-tinnitus ears.
Roxana Mansour-Ghanaei, Maziar Moradi-Lakeh, Sareh Shakerian, Abdollah Karimi, Shooka Esmaeeli, Farhad Shokraneh, Susan Mahmoudi, Mohsen Yaghoubi,
Volume 30, Issue 1 (1-2016)
Abstract
Background: Recent studies indicate an increased incidence of pertussis disease in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the acellular vaccine for children (as a replacement of current whole cell vaccine in the Expanded Program on Immunization) and for high-risk adults in Iran through updating current best available evidence.
Methods: We performed a systematic literature review in relevant databases we focused on previously published systematic reviews to select those that address our questions. The AMSTAR (assessing the methodological quality of systematic reviews) tool was used for screening available reviews. Then search in databases was done until Feb 2014 to update the evidence. We pooled results using meta-analysis methods by Stata statistical package.
Results: Eleven systematic review articles were included in the initial evaluation. In the end, two systematic reviews on acellular vaccine booster doses and the acellular vaccine in children were selected as the baseline evidence. In the update phase, new clinical trials were screened, and the results were updated. Overall pooled estimate of relative efficacy of acellular to whole cell was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.55–0.81) for children immunization Pooled estimates for the efficacy of acellular versus placebo were 0.70 (95% CI, 0.60–0.80). Overall pooled estimate of efficacy of booster dose of acellular was 0.87(95% CI, 0.85–0.88) compared to placebo. In addition pooled estimate of acellular vaccine efficacy based on response to antigen was 0.78(95% CI, 0.64–0.93) in high-risk group.
Conclusion: The results show higher performance and safety of the acellular vaccine in the prevention of pertussis in children versus the whole cell vaccine. Moreover, the efficacy of the acellular vaccine in high-risk adult groups is acceptable. This study provides evidence in favor of the introduction of an acellular vaccine to the national program of immunization. Studies on cost effectiveness and aspects of policy analysis are recommended.
Mansour Torabinia, Sara Mahmoudi, Mojtaba Dolatshahi, Mohamad Reza Abyaz,
Volume 31, Issue 1 (1-2017)
Abstract
Background: Considering the overall tendency in psychology, researchers in the field of work and organizational psychology have
become progressively interested in employees’ effective and optimistic experiments at work such as work engagement. This study was
conducted to investigate 2 main purposes: assessing the psychometric properties of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and finding
any association between work engagement and burnout in nurses.
Methods: The present methodological study was conducted in 2015 and included 248 females and 34 males with 6 months to 30
years of job experience. After the translation process, face and content validity were calculated by qualitative and quantitative methods.
Moreover, content validation ratio, scale-level content validity index and item-level content validity index were measured for this
scale. Construct validity was determined by factor analysis. Moreover, internal consistency and stability reliability were assessed. Factor
analysis, test-retest, Cronbach’s alpha, and association analysis were used as statistical methods.
Results: Face and content validity were acceptable. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a new 3- factor model. In this new model,
some items from the construct model of the original version were dislocated with the same 17 items. The new model was confirmed by
divergent Copenhagen Burnout Inventory as the Persian version of UWES. Internal consistency reliability for the total scale and the
subscales was 0.76 to 0.89. Results from Pearson correlation test indicated a high degree of test-retest reliability (r = 0. 89). ICC was
also 0.91. Engagement was negatively related to burnout and overtime per month, whereas it was positively related with age and job
experiment.
Conclusion: The Persian 3– factor model of Utrecht Work Engagement Scale is a valid and reliable instrument to measure work
engagement in Iranian nurses as well as in other medical professionals.
Farbod Ebadifard Azar, Aziz Rezapour, Haleh Mousavi Isfahani, Saber Azami-Aghdash, Khalil Kalavani, Feridun Mahmoudi,
Volume 31, Issue 1 (1-2017)
Abstract
Background: Evidence- Based Medicine (EBM) refers to the ability and skill in the use and integration of the best evidence obtained from repeatable bias-free clinical trials with the patients’ preferences and conditions. Considering this fact that few large-scale studies have been done in this field in Iran, the present study aimed at comprehensively reviewing the status of EBM performance among health care providers in Iranian hospitals.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2014 and 2015. Study participants consisted of 2800 health care providers (physicians, nurses, midwives, and paramedical personnel) in active hospitals in Iran. Data collection tool was a self-made questionnaire. Content validity of the questionnaire was improved by comments of 10 experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using test-retest method (α= 0.85).
Results: The results revealed that only 12.7% and 15.8% of the participants were highly familiar with EBM databases and terminologies, respectively. Most participants believed that EBM-related workshops and practical involvement in EBM-related programs and activities can have a more effect on the improvement of EBM performance. Most participants had a positive view of the EBM. About 47% of the participants reported that their EBM knowledge and skills is high. Among the demographic variables, there were only significant relationships between work experience and attitude, gender and attitudes, and between knowledge and skills (p<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, it seems that holding EBM-related workshops and practical participation in EBP-related programs and activities as well as improving facilities such as manpower, equipment, and access can have a significant effect on improving EBM- related activities.
Azita Ganji, Abbas Esmaeilzadeh, Omid Ghanaei, Amin Saberi, Danial Taherzadeh, Soodabe Sazgarnia, Zohre Mayabi Joghal, Mahboube Zirak, Salman Abdolah Ramazani, Leili Zarifmahmoudi ,
Volume 31, Issue 1 (1-2017)
Abstract
Background: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a quantitative measure of variability in the size of circulating erythrocytes. It has been recently identified as a prognostic marker in several diseases including acute pancreatitis (AP). In this systematic review the prognostic value of RDW in predicting mortality of AP patients will be assessed.
Methods: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and ISI databases were searched until September 2016 using the following search strategy: (pancreatitis OR pancreatitides) AND (RDW OR "red cell distribution width" OR "red blood cell distribution width" OR anisocytosis). Four authors independently reviewed the retrieved articles. Studies were included if they had evaluated the association between RDW value and mortality of acute pancreatitis patients. Case reports, comments, letters to the editor, reviews, study protocols, and experimental studies were not included. Data abstraction and quality assessment for the included studies was independently performed by two authors. Quality of studies was assessed using Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine checklist for prognostic studies. Data were synthesized qualitatively, and a meta-analysis was performed on the diagnostic performance of RDW to predict mortality in AP patients.
Results: Seven studies (976 patients) were included in the systematic review. Six studies reported a statistically significant association between RDW value and mortality. Meta-analysis was performed on four studies (487 patients) using a bivariate model and a summary receiver operating characteristic (sROC) curve was plotted with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.757. The pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), sensitivity and specificity was 19.51 (95% CI: 5.26-72.30), 67% (95% CI: 51%-80%) and 90% (95% CI: 73%-96%), respectively.
Conclusion: RDW is an easy to use and an inexpensive marker with a moderate prognostic value to predict death in AP patients. Clinicians should be more alert when a patient with AP has an increased RDW. Investigation of possible combinations of other prognostic markers with RDW is recommended.
Zinat Mohammadpour, Fatemehsadat Amiri, Ali Akbar Saboor-Yaraghi, Fariba Koohdani, Marjan Norouzzadeh, Loghman Sharifi, Monireh Sadat Seyyed Salehi, Amirpasha Ebrahimi, Maryam Mahmoudi,
Volume 32, Issue 1 (2-2018)
Abstract
Background: Resveratrol (RSV) provides several important biological functions in wide variety of cells. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying anti-inflammatory effect of RSV on HepG2 cells by assessing the gene expression of RelA and c-Jun- subunits of NF-κB and AP-1 transcription factors.
Methods: HepG2 cells were settled in a serum- free medium with high concentrations of glucose (30 mM) and insulin (1 µM) overnight and were then incubated with RSV (5, 10, and 20 µM) for 24 and 48 hours. Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to determine RelA and c-Jun expression.
Results: RSV diminished hyperglycemia/hyperinsulinemia stimulated expression of c-Jun dose- dependently after 24 and 48 hours (p<0.05). In addition, RelA gene expression was decreased dose-dependently in all RSV doses after 48-hour incubation (p<0.05). Our results indicated that RSV may reduce NF-κB and AP-1 activity via RelA and c-Jun gene regulation.
Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrated that RSV may be considered as a preventative and therapeutic agent for antagonizing inflammation in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Naheed Aryaeian, Mahdi Mahmoudi, Farhad Shahram, Shiva Poursani, Fatemeh Jamshidi, Hajar Tavakoli,
Volume 33, Issue 1 (2-2019)
Abstract
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune and inflammatory disease that affects the joints and consequently leads to the destruction of cartilage and bone lesions. Traditionally, ginger has been consumed in treatment of osteoarthritis, joint and muscle pain, neurological diseases, and inflammation of gums, tooth pain, asthma, stroke, diabetes, and constipation. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ginger on some immunological and inflammatory markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods: In this study, which was performed during 2013-2016, 66 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who referred to the rheumatology clinic at Shariati hospital were en-rolled. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: one group consumed 1.5 gr ginger per day, and the other group took roasted wheat flour (placebo), respectively. To determine the effect of confounding factors on the findings of the study, questionnaires for nutrient intake, physical activity, and medication were filled, and BMI was measured. For each participant, at the beginning and end of the study, Serum hs-CRP and mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-2 and TNF-α were determined by ELISA and Quantitative Real Time PCR, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Significance level was set at p<0.05.
Results: Results of the study showed ginger powder supplementation caused a significant decline in CRP (p=0.050) and IL-1β mRNA level (p=0.021). TNFα mRNA levels reduced in ginger group compared to placebo groupalthough the difference was not significant be-tween the 2 groups (p=0.093). Ginger had no effects on IL2 gene expression.
Conclusion: This study showed that ginger reduces inflammatory factors hs-CRP and IL-1β gene expression in patients with active RA and it seems that ginger can improve the inflam-mation in the patients.
Monireh Kamali, Shirin Manshouri, Yasser Bagheri, Masoumeh Rostami, Mahdi Karkhaneh Mahmoudi, Pardis Moradnezhad, Farhad Seif,
Volume 34, Issue 1 (2-2020)
Abstract
Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic, aerobic, nonfermentative, Gram-negative bacterium that can cause major nosocomial infections, especially in patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU). Recently, A. baumannii strains have been resistant to a variety of antibiotics. Thus, it was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of A. baumannii and their resistance to the antibiotics in the patients hospitalized in postcardiac surgery ICU.
Methods: This retrospective cross sectional study was performed in Rajaei hospital between March 2014 and February 2016. A. baumannii strains were isolated from blood cultures, catheter cultures, sputum cultures, and wound smear cultures. Then, isolates were characterized using standard morphological, cultural, and biochemical properties according to CLSI 2016. The frequency of A. baumannii species were reported as percent.
Results: Among 27 167 patients were admitted to the ICU, 113 individuals, including 55 males and 58 females, were identified as A. baumannii-infected and the prevalence rate was 0.42%. The highest rates of antibiotic sensitivity were related to Meropenem 20 (17.7%) and Colistin 16 (14.1%). The shortest length of stay (LOS) for patients with A. baumannii in the ICU was 3 days, while the longest LOS was 98 days.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that A. baumannii strains isolated from postcardiac surgery ICUs had a high prevalence and were sensitive to Meropenem and Colistin. However, new molecular-based techniques are needed to monitor nosocomial infections. Therefore, the treatment of the patients may be feasible by appropriate antibiotic therapy, and infection control policies will be improved by adopting precise disinfection strategies.
Soheila Aminimoghaddam, Saeedeh Barzn Tond, Alireza Mahmoudi Nahavandi, Ahmadreza Mahmoudzadeh, Sepideh Barzin Tond,
Volume 34, Issue 1 (2-2020)
Abstract
Background: This study investigates the possibility of predicting preterm labor by utilizing serum Magnesium level, BMI, and muscular cramp.
Methods: In this case-control study, 75 preterm and 75 term labor women are included. Different factors such as serum magnesium level, mother’s age, infant’s sex, mother’s Body Mass Index (BMI), infant’s weight, gravid, and muscular cramp experience are measured. Preterm labor is predicted by developing a linear discriminant model using Matlab, and the prediction accuracy is also computed.
Results: The results show that each of the studied variables has a significant correlation with preterm labor. The p-value between BMI and preterm labor is 0.005, and by including the muscular cramp, it becomes less than 0.001. The correlation between serum magnesium level and the preterm labor is less than 0.0001. Using these three significant variables, a linear discriminant function is developed, which improves the accuracy of predicting preterm labor.
Conclusion: The prediction error of preterm labor decreases from 31% (using only serum magnesium level) to 24% using the new proposed discriminant function. Based on this, it is suggested to use the optimized linear discriminant function to enhance the prediction of preterm labor, since the serum magnesium level cannot predict the preterm labor accurately.
Mehdi Jafari, Payam Mahmoudian, Hossein Ebrahimipour, Reza Vafaee-Nezhad, Ali Vafaee-Najar, Seyede-Elahe Hosseini, Hajar Haghighi,
Volume 35, Issue 1 (1-2021)
Abstract
Background: The response time is considered as one of the most important criteria for the quality of given care to the injured. This research aimed to investigate the frequency and causes of prehospital emergency delays in the 115 emergency center, in city of Mashhad, in 2015.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 21,142 missions performed in 2015 were investigated, from among which 640 missions with delays in systematic sampling were recognized. For data analysis purposes, descriptive statistics (frequency, mean and SD) in Excel 2013 software was implemented.
Results: Nearly 60% of the injured were men, 23% women, and the gender of 17% was not recorded in their profiles. The mean age of the injured was 29.8+15.9 years and 30% of the injured were in the age group of 16 to 25. The mean response time was 9:01+2:46. The most prevalent causes related to missions out of the operational zone (29.3%) and the second cause has been related to traffic groups (24.2%).
Conclusion: Establishing new bases and completing the number of ambulances and human recourses, intervention in traffic causing factors, and training the public about emergency cases can be effective in reducing the number of missions and the pace and quality of services provided to the injured.
Maryam Seyedtabib, Hossein Mahjub, Mahmood Mahmoudi, Abbas Moghimbeigi,
Volume 35, Issue 1 (1-2021)
Abstract
Background: The number of children ever born (CEB) to a woman, as an index of her fertility behavior, are interesting for the governments and demographer policymakers. In recent years, a notable reduction of fertility and population aging in Iran has caused concern among politicians, and it has led to starting new changes in demographic policies. Therefore, to adopting new demographic and health policies programs, identification of factors that affecting CEB is essential.
Methods: To evaluate determinant factors on CEB, information of 20093 married Iranian women aged between 15 and 54 years has been analyzed from the Iranian National Institute of Health Research survey. Based on the structure of data and the possible influential unobserved population heterogeneity on CEB in each city and province, a multilevel count regression model was applied. The analysis was performed using the ‘R’ software (version 3.5) with a significant level of 0.05.
Results: Findings show that the mean and median number of CEB was 2.82 and 2.00 for all women, respectively. Meanwhile, these values were 4.56 and 4.00 for the women who reached menopause. There was a significant unobserved heterogeneity affecting CEB in each province (σp=0.018). Also, the results of the multilevel model show that living in an urban area (RR=0.90), higher age at first marriage (RR=0.96), higher education (RR=0.84, RR=0.81), and exposure to mass media (RR=0.87) decrease the risk ratio of the number of CEB (p <0.001).
Conclusion: It seems that the tendency of women to academic education and their access to mass media has a significant effect on reducing childbearing. Therefore, in future planning, attention to these two factors can be useful and helpful to move to increase fertility.
